JPH11249532A - Process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To smoothly load and unload a process cartridge without deteriorating the opening and closing function of a shutter member by providing a device with an elastic body on which a slide member is made to abut so that the shutter member is opened and closed by interlocking with the loading and unloading action of the process cartridge. SOLUTION: The shutter member 28 is turnably supported by being pivotally fixed to the tip part of a shutter arm 27 which can be turned with a shaft 26 arranged at the outside surface of a developing frame body 12a in the longitudinal direction as a center and being pivotally fixed to a link members 29 which can be turned with the turning center 29a of the outside surface of the frame body 12a in the longitudinal direction. The slide members 40 obtained by fitting a coil spring inside are fitted to a fitting part 29b whose both end parts in the longitudinal direction of the link member 29 are bent in U-shaped. When the process cartridge B is inserted along a guide rail, the shutter member 28 is opened because the slide members 110 at both ends of the link member 29 in the longitudinal direction abut on the inclined surface of the guide rail. On the contrary, when the cartridge B is pulled out, the shutter member 28 is closed by being pressed by the torsion coil spring 31 of the shaft 26.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a process cartridge detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus capable of attaching and detaching the process cartridge.

Here, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium by using an electrophotographic image forming process, and includes, for example, an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (eg, an LED printer, a laser beam printer, etc.). ), An electrophotographic facsimile machine, and an electrophotographic word processor.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming process, an electrophotographic photosensitive member and process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member are formed into a cartridge, and this cartridge is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. A process cartridge system that makes it possible is employed. According to this process cartridge system, the maintenance of the image forming apparatus can be performed by the user himself without relying on a service person, so that the operability can be remarkably improved. For this reason, the process cartridge system is widely used in image forming apparatuses.

In such a process cartridge, a cylindrical boss serving as a guide portion is provided on both outer surfaces of a cartridge frame accommodating various members such as an electrophotographic photosensitive member in order to be mounted on an image forming apparatus main body. This boss is configured to be inserted along a guide rail formed on the apparatus main body.

An opening for contacting a recording medium on which a photosensitive drum as an electrophotographic photosensitive member is conveyed is formed at a lower portion of the cartridge frame. When the cartridge is not used, the opening is closed by a drum shutter. By closing with a member, the photosensitive drum is protected. The shutter member includes a shutter arm rotatable around an axis on one side of a longitudinal side surface of the developing frame, and a link rotatable about a center of rotation of both longitudinal outer surfaces of the developing frame. In general, it is rotatably supported by a member.

When the process cartridge is inserted along the guide rail, the shutter member opens, and when the process cartridge is removed, the shutter member is automatically closed by the bias of a torsion coil spring or the like.

To open and close the shutter member, a portion protruding in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge frame is provided on a shutter arm or link member that supports the shutter, and a hook portion is further provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus. This is performed by rotating the link member or the shutter arm by hooking the projecting portion on the hooking portion when inserting into the main body.

[0008]

In a conventional example in which a shutter member is provided in a process cartridge to protect an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a shutter arm or a link member is provided in a longitudinal direction of a cartridge frame to open and close the shutter member. In this configuration, a projecting portion is provided, and the shutter arm or the link member is rotated by engaging the projecting portion with the hook portion.

The present invention is a further development of the above-mentioned prior art, and its main object is to provide a process cartridge which can be smoothly attached to and detached from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body without impairing the opening / closing function of a shutter member. It is in.

Another main object is to provide an electrophotographic image forming apparatus which can be downsized by using the above process cartridge.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus having the following constitutions.

(1) An electrophotographic photosensitive member, a process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a process cartridge supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the process means, wherein the process cartridge is detachable from a main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. A cartridge frame having an opening for opening the electrophotographic photosensitive member to the outside, and an open portion of the cartridge frame provided on the cartridge frame so as to be openable and closable, and a process cartridge is taken out from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. A shutter member that protects the electrophotographic photosensitive member when it is released, and a shutter support member that is attached to both longitudinal sides of the cartridge frame and supports the shutter member so that it can be opened and closed. A slide member movable in a direction perpendicular to the mounting / detaching direction of the process cartridge is provided in a part, and the An elastic body that abuts the slide member on the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body is interposed between the support member and the slide member so as to open and close the shutter member in conjunction with the mounting and dismounting operation of the process cartridge. Characteristic process cartridge.

(2) An electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge is detachably mountable and forms an image on a recording medium, comprising: a. An electrophotographic photosensitive member, a process unit acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a cartridge frame supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the process unit, and having an opening for opening the electrophotographic photosensitive member to the outside; A shutter member provided on the cartridge frame so as to be capable of opening and closing an open portion of the cartridge frame to protect the electrophotographic photosensitive member when a process cartridge is removed from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus; and a cartridge frame. A shutter support member attached to both sides in the longitudinal direction of the printer and supporting the shutter member in an openable and closable manner, and a slide member movable in a direction perpendicular to the mounting and dismounting direction of the process cartridge is provided on a part of the shutter support member. Between the shutter support member and the slide member in conjunction with the mounting and dismounting operation of the process cartridge. The process cartridge and the slide member is interposed an elastic body for contact with the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body so as to open and close the member, and mounting means for removably mounting, b. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium.

(Operation) The process cartridge is attached to and detached from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body in a state where the slide member is brought into contact with the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body by an elastic body.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the slide member from coming off the hook portion of the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
Therefore, it is possible to smoothly attach / detach to / from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body. Further, since the shutter member is opened and closed in conjunction with the attachment and detachment operation to the image forming apparatus main body, the opening and closing function of the shutter member is not impaired.

Further, in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the slide member can be prevented from coming off from the hooking portion in the above-described process cartridge, so that the hooking portion can be made small, and thus the electrophotographic image can be formed. The dimension of the forming apparatus in the front-rear direction can be reduced, and the size of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus can be reduced.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. A laser beam printer will be described as an embodiment of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. In the following description, the direction intersecting the direction in which each member is attached to and detached from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus of the process cartridge is referred to as a longitudinal direction.

(Embodiment 1) A process cartridge and an image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge can be mounted will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 are external views of the process cartridge, and FIG.
FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of an image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge is mounted, FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a process cartridge, and FIGS. 6 to 8 are schematic diagrams illustrating the mounting means of the process cartridge. 13 is an explanatory view of a mounting state of the process cartridge.

Here, as the order of the description, the overall configuration of the process cartridge and the image forming apparatus using the same will be described, and the configuration of attaching and detaching the process cartridge will be described.

(Overall Configuration) This electrophotographic image forming apparatus (laser beam printer) A is, as shown in FIG.
The optical system 1 irradiates the drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member with information light based on image information to form a latent image on the photosensitive member, and develops the latent image with a developer (hereinafter referred to as “toner”). Form a toner image. In synchronization with the formation of the toner image, the recording medium 2 is separated and fed one by one from a paper feed cassette 3a by a pick-up roller 3b and a pressing member 3c which presses the recording medium, and a conveying roller 3d, a pair of registration rollers 3e, and the like. The toner image formed on the electrophotographic photoreceptor conveyed by the conveying means 3 and formed into a cartridge as the process cartridge B is transferred to the recording medium 2 by applying a voltage to a transfer roller 4 as a transfer means. The recording medium 2 is transported to the fixing unit 5 by the transport belt 3f. The fixing means 5 includes a driving roller 5a, a fixing rotator 5d including a heater 5b and a cylindrical sheet rotatably supported by a support 5c, and applies heat and pressure to the recording medium 2 passing therethrough. To fix the transferred toner image. Then, the recording medium 2 is conveyed by a pair of discharge rollers 3g and 3h, and is discharged through a reverse conveyance path.
It is configured to discharge to In this image forming apparatus, manual feeding can be performed by a manual tray 3i and a roller 3j.

(Process Cartridge) On the other hand, the process cartridge B is provided with an electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least one process means. Here, as the process means, for example, a charging means for charging an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing means for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a cleaning means for cleaning toner remaining on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member Etc. As shown in FIG. 5, the process cartridge B of the present embodiment
The photosensitive drum 7, which is an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a photosensitive layer, is rotated, and a voltage is applied to a charging roller 8, which is a charging unit, to uniformly charge the surface of the photosensitive drum 7, and the charged photosensitive drum 7 is charged. A latent image is formed by exposing a light image from the optical system 1 to an exposure light through an exposure opening 9, and the latent image is developed by developing means 10.

The developing means 10 includes a toner storage section 10a.
Rotatable first feed member 1 serving as feed means for feeding the toner inside
0b1 and the second feeding member 10b2 to rotate the developing roller 10d, which is a developing rotator incorporating the fixed magnet 10c, and form a toner layer provided with triboelectric charge by the developing blade 10e on the surface of the developing roller 10d. , The toner on the photosensitive drum 7 in accordance with the latent image.
Then, the toner image is formed by transferring the toner image to a visible image.

After the toner image is transferred to the recording medium 2 by applying a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image to the transfer roller 4, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 7 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 11a, and The residual toner on the photosensitive drum 7 is removed by the cleaning means 11 which is scooped by the toner 11b and collected in the waste toner storage 11c.

Each member such as the photosensitive drum 7 is connected to the cleaning frame 13 by combining the developing frame 12a, the lower developing frame 12b and the lid member 12c by welding. The cartridge is housed in a cartridge frame CF constructed as described above to be made into a cartridge, and is detachably mounted to a cartridge mounting means provided in the apparatus main body 14.

(Removable Configuration of Process Cartridge) Next, a configuration for mounting and removing the process cartridge B from the image forming apparatus A will be described.

The mounting and dismounting of the process cartridge B is performed by opening the opening / closing member 15 as shown in FIG. When the opening / closing member 15 is opened around the shaft 15a (see FIG. 4), the cartridge mounting means is lowered forward and downward on both left and right sides of the cartridge mounting space as shown in FIGS. A guide rail 16 formed in a curved shape (substantially arc shape in the present embodiment) is provided substantially symmetrically, and a guide member 17 is mounted above the guide rail 16. Further, on the entrance side of the guide rail 16, an inclined surface 16a is formed as a hooking portion with which a mounting portion 29b described later of the process cartridge B is engaged via a slide member 40.

On the other hand, guide portions guided along the guide rails 16 are formed on both outer side surfaces in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge B corresponding to the guide rails 16. The guide portion is configured to protrude from a substantially symmetrical position on both outer side surfaces in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge frame CF. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the guide portion includes a boss 18a serving as a first guide portion. And a rib 18b serving as a second guide portion. The boss 18a is connected to the photosensitive drum 7
The rib 18b is located on an extension of the rotation axis of
After the insertion direction of the process cartridge B from 8a, it extends in a curved shape (substantially arc shape in the present embodiment) which swells downward according to the shape of the guide rail 16.

In the above configuration, when the process cartridge B is mounted, as shown in FIGS.
The boss 18 a and the rib 18 b are inserted along the guide rail 16 so that the leading end of the cartridge is sunk under the optical system 1 of the image forming apparatus A. The guide rail 16 is formed in a substantially arc shape, and the guide member 17 above the guide rail 16 also has a shape following the shape, and the rib 18b has a similar substantially arc shape. The cartridge B becomes substantially horizontal. When the process cartridge B is further pushed in, as shown in FIG. 13, the abutting members 19 provided on the apparatus main body 14 abut on abutting surfaces 20 provided near both ends of the front end of the cleaning frame 13. The boss 18a of the cartridge B falls into the receiving recess 16c formed at the end of the guide rail 16. Thereby, the drum gear 21 fixed to the side end of the photosensitive drum 7
2 (see FIG. 2) is engaged with the drive gear 22 (see FIG. 8) on the apparatus main body 14 side, so that the driving force can be transmitted to the process cartridge B.

An opening (opening) 13n for contacting the recording medium 2 on which the photosensitive drum 7 is conveyed is formed below the cartridge frame CF (see FIG. 5). When not using, the photosensitive drum 7 is protected by closing the opening 13n with the drum shutter member 28. As shown in FIG. 1, the shutter member 28 is pivotally attached to a distal end of a shutter arm 27 rotatable around a shaft 26 provided on one side of a longitudinal outer surface of the developing frame 12a, and is used for developing. Frame 1
It is pivotally attached to a link member 29 that is rotatable about a rotation center 29a on both outer side surfaces in the longitudinal direction of 2a and is rotatably supported. That is, the shutter member 28 is one link of a four-joint chain mechanism on one side shown in FIG. 1, and the shutter arm 27 and the link member 29 are the shutter member 28.
And a shutter support member for supporting the shutter.

When the process cartridge B is inserted along the guide rail 16 as described above, the slide members 40 protruding from both ends of the link member 29 in the longitudinal direction are inclined by the inclined surface (receiving surface) 16a of the guide rail 16. When the process cartridge B is pulled out, the torsion coil spring 31 attached to the shaft 26 (see FIG. 1) opens the shutter member 28 (see FIGS. 8 to 13).
), The shutter member 28 is automatically closed. In the above, the shutter arm 2
7. The shutter member 28 is made of a synthetic resin, and the link member 29 is made of an elastic wire, for example, a steel wire such as a piano wire.

A slide member 40 protruding from both ends in the longitudinal direction of the link member 29 is shown in FIGS.
8 will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the slide member 40 is a plastic resin molded product formed in a substantially U-shaped cross section, has a slit 40b at the closed end, and has a slit 40b near the open end. It has ribs 40a1 and 40a2.
One end of a compression coil spring 41, which is an elastic body, is attached to the slit 40b of the slide member 40.
The other end of the coil spring 41 is attached to the rib 40a1 inside the slide member 40 in a state where the coil spring 41 is compressed.
The slide member 40 with the coil spring 41 attached inside in this manner is attached to an attachment portion 29b in which both ends in the longitudinal direction of the link member 29 are bent in a U-shape. At this time, the end of the coil spring 41 abutting the rib 40a1 inside the slide member 40 abuts a part of the mounting portion 29b of the link member 29, and the slide member 4 is restored by the restoring force of the coil spring 41.
The 0 rib 40a1 and the mounting portion 29b of the link member 29 abut.

Here, the vertical interval H of the U-shaped cross section of the slide member 40 is slightly larger than the diameter φd of the mounting portion 29b, and has a fitting relationship with the thickness (diameter) of the mounting portion 29b. The height h of the ribs 40a1 and 40a2 of the slide member 40 is larger than the radius φd / 2 of the link member 29 (h
> Φd / 2), the slide member 40 does not come off from the mounting portion 29b of the link member 29 even when the restoring force of the coil spring 41 acts. Also, the slide member 40
Is substantially equal to the outer width B of the mounting portion 29b of the link member 29 (b ≒ B), and the width b ′ of the ribs 40a1 and 40a2 is in a fitting relationship with the inner width B ′ of the mounting portion 29b (b ′ direction). Is slightly smaller than B '). Furthermore, rib 40a
1 and the rib 40a2 are provided at a certain distance w.

By doing so, the slide member 40 can slide only in the Z direction (the direction in which the slide member is assembled) in FIG. And rotation can be suppressed.

Next, the dimensional relationship between the process cartridge B to which the above-mentioned slide member 40 is attached and the longitudinal direction of the apparatus main body 14 in the direction substantially perpendicular to the mounting / detaching direction of the process cartridge B will be described.

FIG. 17 is a schematic view of the process cartridge B having the slide member 40 and the guide rail 16 of the apparatus main body 14.

The rib 40a1 of the slide member 40 slidably attached to the link member 29 in the longitudinal direction comes into contact with the mounting portion 29b of the link member 29, and the slide member 4
When the outer dimension of “0” becomes the maximum, 11 and the slide member 4
The coil spring 41 attached inside the cylinder is compressed and adheres,
The dimension when the interval between the slide members 40 is minimized is 12. The dimension between the outer wall surfaces 16d of the inclined surfaces 16a for opening and closing the shutter provided on the guide rail 16 of the apparatus main body 14 is defined as W1. At this time, the three dimensions are designed so as to satisfy the relationship of l1>W1> l2.

With this design, when the process cartridge B is inserted into the apparatus main body 14, the slide member 40 moves inward, and moves on the inclined surface 16d while contacting the outer wall surface 16d by the restoring force of the coil spring 41. I will do it.
At this time, the restoring force of the coil spring 41 is suppressed to such a level that the slide member 40 overcomes the friction with the inclined surface 16a, so that a friction force lower than the rigidity of the link member 29 can be obtained. For this reason, the shutter member 28 can be reliably moved to the predetermined position without the link member 29 being deformed.

The inner dimension W2 between the guide rails 16 and the outer width 13 of the cartridge frame CF of the process cartridge B
Since the process cartridge B can be securely inserted into the
A relationship of 2> 13 is required.

For this reason, when inserting the process cartridge B, if the user holds the vicinity of one end in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge B and tries to attach / detach with an excessive force, as shown in FIG. And outer width l3
In some cases, the process cartridge B may be inclined as much as the play (W2-13) of the difference.

In the case of a long process cartridge capable of printing on A3 paper or an A3 plate, when the process cartridge becomes oblique due to its normal posture (two-dot chain line in FIG. 18) and this backlash (in FIG. 18). The difference α in the longitudinal direction (solid line) is surely larger than the process cartridge for A4 paper.

In such a state, the inclined front side (the left side in the figure) is pressed against the side wall 16e of the guide rail 16 to increase the resistance. Also, the oblique rear side (FIG. 18)
The middle right) causes a situation in which the end of the link member 29 is disengaged from the guide rail 16.

However, in the process cartridge according to the present embodiment, the shutter member 28 is opened and closed by the slide member 40 slidably provided on the link member 29, so that the inclined front slide member 40 is moved by the coil spring. Since the slide member 40 on the rear side which is moved inward while compressing the guide rail 41 and which is obliquely moved outward by the restoring force of the internal coil spring 41, the guide rail 16
The link member 29 can be securely held in between.

Process cartridge B of this embodiment
Then, slide members 40 slidable at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the link member 29 are provided, and the maximum dimension 11 and the minimum dimension 12 between the slide members 40 and the inclined surface 16a of the apparatus main body 14 are provided.
The relationship of l1>W1> l2 with the interval W1 of the outer wall surface 16d of the process cartridge B while the slide member 40 is pressed against the outer wall surface 16d of the inclined surface 16a of the apparatus main body 14 with an appropriate force. Is mounted, it is possible to reliably open and close the shutter member 28 without deteriorating the mounting feeling of the process cartridge B.

Further, the amount by which the slide member 40 overlaps the inclined surface 16a in the longitudinal direction becomes the entire width of the inclined surface 16a, and the amount of engagement of the slide member 40 can be maximized. By keeping the amount small, the width of the inclined surface 16a also becomes small, and the device body 14
Can be downsized in the longitudinal direction. Thus, the size of the image forming apparatus A can be reduced.

(Embodiment 2) Next, another embodiment of the process cartridge B according to the present invention will be described.

In this embodiment, the mounting portion 29 of the link member 29 is used instead of the slide member 40 of the above-described embodiment.
Roller holding member (roller receiving member) as shown in FIG.
50 and 51 and a roller member 52 are provided. U-shaped arm portions 50a, 51a projecting in a direction substantially perpendicular to the mounting / detaching direction of the process cartridge B are provided on the roller holding members 50, 51.
Are provided near the ends of the U-shaped arms 50a, 51a, and flanges 50a, 51b, and further, roller sliding parts 50c, 51c are provided further therefrom. Arm part 50
At the tips of a and 51a, a convex portion 50d and a concave portion 51d which are fitting portions of the roller member 52 are provided.

The roller holding members 50 and 51 are connected to the link member 2.
9, the boss 51e of the roller holding member 51 is fitted into the fitting hole 50e of the roller holding member 50,
Snap fit claws 50f, 5 across the mounting part 29b
1f, the attachment portion 29 of the link member 29
b.

When locking the roller holding members 50 and 51, use U
Flanges 50b, 51 of the U-shaped arms 50a, 51a
The roller member 52 is incorporated between the rollers b so that the roller inner diameter portion 52a can be rotated by the roller sliding portions 50c and 51c.

Since the roller holding members 50 and 51 are formed of plastic resin, the U-shaped arm portions 50a and 50
1a has elasticity and can be deformed in the mounting / removing direction of the process cartridge B.

Next, the above-described roller member 52 and roller holding member 5
The dimensional relationship between the process cartridge B to which the process cartridges 0 and 51 are attached and the apparatus main body 14 in the longitudinal direction (a direction substantially perpendicular to the mounting and dismounting direction of the process cartridge) will be described.

FIG. 20 is a schematic view of the process cartridge B to which the roller holding members 50 and 51 are attached and the guide rail 16 of the apparatus main body 14.

The outer dimension between the roller members 52 when the arm portions 50a and 51a of the roller holding members 50 and 51 attached to the link member 29 are not deformed is 14, and the arm portions 50a and 50a of the roller holding members 50 and 51 are not deformed. When the distance 51a is deformed and the interval between the roller members 52 is minimized, the dimension is set to 15. Further, the dimension between the outer wall surface 16d of the shutter opening / closing inclined surface 16a provided on the guide rail 16 of the apparatus main body 14 is W
Let it be 1. At this time, the three dimensions are designed so as to satisfy the relationship of l4>W1> l5.

With this design, when the process cartridge B is inserted into the apparatus main body 14, the arm 50
A and 51a are deformed rearward in the direction of insertion of the process cartridge B, and move on the inclined surface 16a while urging the roller member 52 against the outer wall surface 16d by the elastic force of the arm portions 50a and 51a. At this time, the roller member 52 rotates in contact with the outer wall surface 16d.

Process cartridge B of the present embodiment
In this case, since the rotatable roller member 52 moves while rotating with respect to the outer wall surface 16d of the inclined surface 16a of the apparatus main body 14, the shutter 28 can be reliably opened and closed without impairing the feeling of mounting the process cartridge B. Becomes

Also in the case of this embodiment, the roller member 52 is attached to the outer wall surface 16d of the inclined surface 16a of the apparatus main body 14 by the elastic force of the arm portions 50a and 51a even when the process cartridge B is inclined at the time of attachment / detachment. Since the contact member is rotated by being urged, the shutter member 28 can be reliably opened and closed without deforming the link member 29.

Further, since the arm portions 50a, 51a of the roller holding members 50, 51 can be elastically deformed, also in the case of the present embodiment, the amount of overlap with the inclined surface 16a of the apparatus main body 14 in the longitudinal direction is maximized. It is possible to make use of the inclined surface 16 by reducing the amount of hanging.
The width of “a” can be reduced, and the size of the apparatus main body 14 in the longitudinal direction can be reduced. Thus, the size of the image forming apparatus A can be reduced.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the link member 29 which is a component of the shutter support member is provided.
The slide members 40 slidable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the mounting / removing direction of the process cartridge B are provided on the mounting portions 29 b provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the link member 29.
The coil spring 41 is compressed and installed between the slide member 9b and the slide member 40, and the interval when the slide member 40 is urged outward in a direction substantially perpendicular to the mounting / detaching direction of the process cartridge B is moved inward by 11. When the space between the outer wall 16d of the inclined surface 16a of the apparatus main body 14 and the space between the outer wall 16d is W, the relationship of l1>W> l2 is satisfied. Even when the cartridge B is inclined obliquely, the slider member 40 does not detach from the inclined surface (receiving surface) 16 a of the apparatus main body 14, and a smooth attaching / detaching operation can be performed.

The elastic portions 50a, 5a are attached to the mounting portions 29 provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the link member 29.
Roller holding members 50 and 51 for rotatably supporting the roller member 52 are provided at 1a, and the gap between the roller members when the arm portions 50a and 51a are not deformed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the mounting / removing direction of the process cartridge B is set. l3, arm 50a,
The distance between the roller members when the elastic member 51a has been elastically deformed inward is 14 and the outer wall surface 1 of the inclined surface 16a of the apparatus body 14 is
When the interval of 6d is W, the relationship of 13>W> 14 is satisfied, so that when the process cartridge B is attached or detached, the roller member 52 is urged by the elastic force of the arm portions 50a and 51a. Inclined surface (receiving surface) 1 of main body 14
Since it moves while rotating in contact with 6a, it is possible to perform a more favorable attachment / detachment operation without impairing the mounting feeling of the process cartridge B.

Further, since the amount of the slide member 40 and the roller member 52 to be hooked on the inclined surface 16a serving as a hook portion of the apparatus main body 14 can be suppressed, the inclined surface 16a can be reduced in the width direction, and the apparatus main body 14 can be reduced. Can be reduced in the front-rear direction (the direction crossing the direction in which the process cartridge is inserted), and the size of the image forming apparatus A can be reduced.

(Other Embodiments) The case where the process cartridge B shown in the present embodiment forms a single-color image has been exemplified. However, the process cartridge according to the present invention is provided with a plurality of developing means, and a plurality of color images ( For example, the present invention can be suitably applied to a cartridge for forming a two-color image, a three-color image, a full-color image, and the like.

The electrophotographic photosensitive member is not limited to the photosensitive drum 7, but includes, for example, the following. First, a photoconductor is used as the photoconductor. Examples of the photoconductor include amorphous silicon, amorphous selenium, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, and an organic photoconductor (OPC). Also, as a shape for mounting the photoconductor, for example, a drum-shaped or belt-shaped one is used. For example, in the case of a drum-type photoconductor, a photoconductor is deposited or coated on a cylinder made of an aluminum alloy or the like. And so on.

Various developing methods such as a known two-component magnetic brush method, a cascade method, a touch-down method, and a cloud developing method can be used as the developing method.

In the above-described embodiment, a so-called contact charging method is used for the structure of the charging means. However, as another structure, a metal shield such as aluminum is provided around three sides of a conventionally known tungsten wire. It is a matter of course that a configuration may be used in which positive or negative ions generated by applying a high voltage to the tungsten wire are moved to the surface of the image carrier to uniformly charge the surface of the image carrier.

The charging means may be a blade (charging blade), a pad type, a block type, a rod type, a wire type, or the like, in addition to the roller type.

As a method for cleaning the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 7, a blade, a fur brush,
The cleaning means may be constituted by using a magnetic brush or the like. A magnetic brush or the like may be used.

The process cartridge described above is provided with, for example, an electrophotographic photosensitive member and one of processing means acting on the photosensitive member. Therefore, as a mode of the process cartridge, in addition to the above-described embodiment, for example, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a developing unit and a charging unit are integrally formed as a cartridge, and can be detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body. thing. An electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing unit, and a cleaning unit are integrally formed into a cartridge, which can be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus main body. In some cases, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus and the developing unit are integrally formed into a cartridge and can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a laser beam printer is exemplified as the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an electrophotographic copying machine, a facsimile machine, a word processor, or the like may be used. Naturally, it can be used in a color electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

Further, as the transfer material 2 as a recording medium, a recording sheet, a plastic sheet such as an OHP sheet, a cloth, or the like can be used.

[0070]

As described above, according to the process cartridge of the present invention, a slide member movable in a direction perpendicular to the mounting / removing direction of the process cartridge is provided at a part of the shutter support member, and the slide member is processed. An elastic body for urging in a direction perpendicular to the mounting / detaching direction of the cartridge is interposed between the shutter support member and the slide member, and when the process cartridge is attached / detached, the slide member is made use of the urging force of the elastic body. The shutter member is opened and closed in conjunction with the mounting and dismounting operation of the process cartridge by being brought into contact with the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Therefore, the shutter member can be smoothly mounted on and removed from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

Further, a roller receiving member provided with an elastically deformable arm portion projecting in a direction perpendicular to the mounting / dismounting direction of the process cartridge is provided on a part of the shutter supporting member, and the roller member is mounted on the arm portion of the roller receiving member. When the process cartridge is attached or detached, the roller member is pressed against the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body by using the elastic force of the arm portion of the roller receiving member when the process cartridge is attached or detached, and the process cartridge is rotated. Since the shutter member is opened and closed in conjunction with the attaching / detaching operation of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the shutter member can be attached / detached more smoothly to / from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body.

Further, the amount of the slide member or the roller member hooked on the hook portion of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body can be suppressed by the movement of the slide member or the deformation of the arm portion of the roller receiving member. The amount can be reduced,
The size of the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus in the front-rear direction can be reduced, and the size of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus can be reduced.

Therefore, the size of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus can be reduced by using the process cartridge of the present invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a process cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from a right outer side surface.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the process cartridge according to the exemplary embodiment from a left outer side surface.

FIG. 3 is a view as seen in the direction of the arrow Z in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a configuration of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a configuration of a process cartridge.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a process cartridge is attached and detached.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a right guide rail of an image forming apparatus main body for guiding attachment and detachment of a process cartridge.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a left guide rail of an image forming apparatus main body for guiding attachment and detachment of a process cartridge.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the process cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the process cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the process cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the process cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the process cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing a slide member attached to a shutter support member of the process cartridge.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a side view of the slide member viewed from the direction of the arrow in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a schematic view of a process cartridge having a slide member and a guide rail of an image forming apparatus main body.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of inserting a process cartridge obliquely.

FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view showing a roller holding member and a roller member attached to a shutter support member of the process cartridge.

FIG. 20 is a schematic view of a roller holding member, a process cartridge having a roller member, and a guide rail of an image forming apparatus main body.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Conveying means 7 Photoconductor drum (electrophotographic photoreceptor) 8 Charging roller (charging means) 10 Developing means 11 Cleaning means 14 Device main body (electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body) 16 Guide rail (mounting means) 16a Inclined surface (receiving surface) ) 28 drum shutter member (shutter member) 29 link member (shutter support member) 40 slide member 41 compression coil spring (elastic body) 50, 51 roller receiving member (roller holding member) 50a, 51a arm portion 52 roller member B process cartridge CF Cartridge frame

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: an electrophotographic photoreceptor; a process unit acting on the electrophotographic photoreceptor; A cartridge frame having an opening for opening the electrophotographic photosensitive member to the outside; and an open portion of the cartridge frame is provided on the cartridge frame so as to be openable and closable, and a process cartridge is taken out from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body. A shutter member that protects the electrophotographic photoreceptor when it is attached to both longitudinal sides of the cartridge frame;
A shutter support member for supporting the shutter member so as to be openable and closable; a slide member movable in a direction perpendicular to a process cartridge attaching / detaching direction provided in a part of the shutter support member; Between the members,
A process cartridge, comprising an elastic body for bringing the slide member into contact with the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus so as to open and close the shutter member in conjunction with the attachment / detachment operation of the process cartridge. 2. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the slide member is urged by the elastic body in a direction perpendicular to a mounting / detaching direction of the process cartridge. 3. The interval when the slide member is urged outward in a direction perpendicular to the mounting / removing direction of the process cartridge is 11 and the sliding member moves inward in a direction perpendicular to the mounting / removing direction of the process cartridge. 2. When the distance between the sliding member and the outer wall of the receiving surface of the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus is W, l1>W> l2. Or the process cartridge according to 2. 4. The slide member has a substantially U-shaped cross section and has a rib at an open side thereof at right angles to the moving direction of the slide member, and the shutter support member has a substantially U-shape. A rib formed on the slide member, the rib having a fitting relationship with an inner width of the mounting portion of the shutter support member, and a vertical space between the U-shaped cross section of the slide member and the shutter support. 4. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the moving direction of the slide member is regulated by setting the thickness of the mounting portion of the member in a fitting relationship. 5. 5. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the slide member is provided at both ends in a longitudinal direction of the shutter support member. 6. A process cartridge detachable from a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive member; processing means for acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; and supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the processing means; A cartridge frame having an opening for opening the electrophotographic photosensitive member to the outside; and an opening for the cartridge frame being provided on the cartridge frame so as to be openable and closable, and a process cartridge taken out of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body. A shutter member that protects the electrophotographic photoreceptor when it is attached to both longitudinal sides of the cartridge frame;
A shutter support member for supporting the shutter member so as to be openable and closable; a roller member rotatably supported on a part of the shutter support member via an elastic arm portion; A process wherein a roller receiving member is provided for abutting the roller member on the electrophotographic image forming apparatus body by utilizing the elasticity of the arm portion so as to open and close the shutter member in conjunction therewith and rotating the roller member. cartridge. 7. The process cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the arm portion of the roller receiving member protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the mounting / removing direction of the process cartridge, and is elastically deformed in the mounting / removing direction of the process cartridge. 8. An interval between the roller members when the elastic arm portion of the roller receiving member is not elastically deformed is set to l.
3. The distance between the roller members when the elastic arm portion of the roller receiving member is displaced by an elastically deformable amount is l.
4. When the distance between the outer wall of the receiving surface of the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus with which the roller member contacts is W, 13>W> 14 is satisfied. Process cartridge. 9. The process cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the roller receiving member and the roller member are provided at both longitudinal ends of the shutter support member. 10. The process cartridge includes, as process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging means for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. A developing unit for developing, and a cleaning unit for removing a developer remaining on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein the charging unit, the developing unit, the cleaning unit, and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrated into a cartridge. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge is detachable from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. 11. The process cartridge includes: developing means for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, as a process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; and charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member. And any one of cleaning means for removing a developer remaining on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the developing means, and any one of the charging means and the cleaning means, The process cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a cartridge is integrally formed with the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and the cartridge is detachable from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. 12. The process cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a developing unit configured to develop a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member as a process unit acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. The process cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a cartridge is integrally formed with the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and the cartridge is detachable from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. 13. A process cartridge which is detachable.
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, comprising: a. An electrophotographic photoreceptor, a process unit that acts on the electrophotographic photoreceptor, a cartridge frame that supports the electrophotographic photoreceptor and the process unit, and has an opening that opens the electrophotographic photoreceptor to the outside; A shutter member provided on the cartridge frame so as to be capable of opening and closing an open portion of the cartridge frame, and protecting the electrophotographic photosensitive member when a process cartridge is removed from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus; Attached on both longitudinal sides,
A shutter support member for supporting the shutter member so as to be openable and closable; a slide member movable in a direction perpendicular to a process cartridge attaching / detaching direction provided in a part of the shutter support member; Between the members,
Mounting for detachably mounting a process cartridge having an elastic body interposed between the slide member and the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus so as to open and close the shutter member in conjunction with the mounting and demounting operation of the process cartridge. Means; b. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium. 14. A process cartridge is detachable,
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, comprising: a. An electrophotographic photoreceptor, a process unit that acts on the electrophotographic photoreceptor, a cartridge frame that supports the electrophotographic photoreceptor and the process unit, and has an opening that opens the electrophotographic photoreceptor to the outside; A shutter member provided on the cartridge frame so as to be capable of opening and closing an open portion of the cartridge frame, and protecting the electrophotographic photosensitive member when the process cartridge is removed from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus; Mounted on both sides in the direction
A shutter support member for supporting the shutter member in an openable and closable manner; a roller member rotatably supported on a part of the shutter support member via an elastic arm portion; A process cartridge provided with a roller receiving member that makes the roller member contact the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body by utilizing the elasticity of the arm portion so as to open and close the shutter member, and rotates the contact member.
Mounting means for removably mounting; b. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium.